WIN/XP Home
IE 7.0

I have always used Google as my default search engine.

About a month ago "Fast Browser Search" started at start-up. There is also
a "box" in the top "ribbon" and Fast Browser Search is the default. The
drop down box also includes Google, which I prefer, and I set it as the
default and remove the Fast Browser. This is good until IE is closed and
reopened and then it defaults to Fast Browser again.

What could I have done to cause Fast Brower to be my default? I'm even
thinking that I somehow replied "yes" to adding Fast Browser. But how do I
get rid of it?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

--
Kathy
aka smiley

In God We Trust

WIN/XP Home SP3

--
Kathy
aka smiley

In God We Trust
"Kathy" <smiley@cheerful.com> wrote in message
news:hd2dee$2bf3$1@news.iquest.net...
> WIN/XP Home
> IE 7.0
>
> I have always used Google as my default search engine.
>
> About a month ago "Fast Browser Search" started at start-up. There is
> also a "box" in the top "ribbon" and Fast Browser Search is the default.
> The drop down box also includes Google, which I prefer, and I set it as
> the default and remove the Fast Browser. This is good until IE is closed
> and reopened and then it defaults to Fast Browser again.
>
> What could I have done to cause Fast Brower to be my default? I'm even
> thinking that I somehow replied "yes" to adding Fast Browser. But how do
> I get rid of it?
>
> Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
>
> --
> Kathy
> aka smiley
>
> In God We Trust
>

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a hijackware
infection!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in
dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including unwanted
software), and adware.
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...prid=7552&st=1

Otherwise...

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2. Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!) in Safe
Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested logs
in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
• http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
• http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
• http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
• http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php or other appropriate forums.**

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Kathy wrote:
> WIN/XP Home SP3
>> IE 7.0
>>
>> I have always used Google as my default search engine.
>>
>> About a month ago "Fast Browser Search" started at start-up. There is
>> also a "box" in the top "ribbon" and Fast Browser Search is the default.
>> The drop down box also includes Google, which I prefer, and I set it as
>> the default and remove the Fast Browser. This is good until IE is closed
>> and reopened and then it defaults to Fast Browser again.
>>
>> What could I have done to cause Fast Brower to be my default? I'm even
>> thinking that I somehow replied "yes" to adding Fast Browser. But how do
>> I get rid of it?
>>
>> Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Hi PA Bear

Again thank you for your very extensive advice!

The very first thing I did was to make sure that I had the most current
updates to my SpyWare Detector and then ran a complete scan of my HD and 2
external HD's. It found 4 malwares with 2 deemed critical. Apparently
doing that and quarantining them allowed me to change the search engine back
to Google.

Next I will start with the links you sent. This is going to take me some
time to learn about everything. I hope to be able to do this myself without
having to take the tower into the shop. And, yes, I have a wonderful
computer store filled with technophiles! Not sure it is a real word but
they are the real deal! Dave's Computer World in Brookston Indiana!

Thanks again for your help. Now it's time to get busy on my end here.

--
Kathy
aka smiley

In God We Trust
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
news:e5PHvB0XKHA.872@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
> hijackware infection!
>
> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
> expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
> since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
> Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
> Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>
> Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in
> dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including
> unwanted software), and adware.
> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...prid=7552&st=1
>
> Otherwise...
>
> 1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
>
> NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
> MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
> machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
>
> 2. Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!) in Safe
> Mode with Networking, if need be:
> http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
>
> 3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested
> logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
>
> Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
> • http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
> • http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
> • http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
> • http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
>
> **Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
> http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
> http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php or other appropriate forums.**
>
> If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
> www.banthecheck.com
>
>
> Kathy wrote:
>> WIN/XP Home SP3
>>> IE 7.0
>>>
>>> I have always used Google as my default search engine.
>>>
>>> About a month ago "Fast Browser Search" started at start-up. There is
>>> also a "box" in the top "ribbon" and Fast Browser Search is the default.
>>> The drop down box also includes Google, which I prefer, and I set it as
>>> the default and remove the Fast Browser. This is good until IE is
>>> closed
>>> and reopened and then it defaults to Fast Browser again.
>>>
>>> What could I have done to cause Fast Brower to be my default? I'm even
>>> thinking that I somehow replied "yes" to adding Fast Browser. But how
>>> do
>>> I get rid of it?
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
>

Spyware Detector or Spyware *Doctor*? If the former, that could be your
hijacker! See http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/spywaredetector.com

Kathy wrote:
> Hi PA Bear
>
> Again thank you for your very extensive advice!
>
> The very first thing I did was to make sure that I had the most current
> updates to my SpyWare Detector and then ran a complete scan of my HD and 2
> external HD's. It found 4 malwares with 2 deemed critical. Apparently
> doing that and quarantining them allowed me to change the search engine
> back
> to Google.
>
> Next I will start with the links you sent. This is going to take me some
> time to learn about everything. I hope to be able to do this myself
> without
> having to take the tower into the shop. And, yes, I have a wonderful
> computer store filled with technophiles! Not sure it is a real word but
> they are the real deal! Dave's Computer World in Brookston Indiana!
>
> Thanks again for your help. Now it's time to get busy on my end here.
>
>
> In God We Trust
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
> news:e5PHvB0XKHA.872@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
>> hijackware infection!
>>
>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription
>> had
>> expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription
>> has
>> since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
>> Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
>> Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>>
>> Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in
>> dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including
>> unwanted software), and adware.
>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...prid=7552&st=1
>>
>> Otherwise...
>>
>> 1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
>>
>> NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
>> MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
>> machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
>>
>> 2. Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!) in Safe
>> Mode with Networking, if need be:
>> http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
>>
>> 3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested
>> logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
>>
>> Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
>> • http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>> • http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
>> • http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
>> • http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
>>
>> **Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
>> http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
>> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
>> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
>> http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php or other appropriate forums.**
>>
>> If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
>> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
>> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>> www.banthecheck.com
>>
>>
>> Kathy wrote:
>>> WIN/XP Home SP3
>>>> IE 7.0
>>>>
>>>> I have always used Google as my default search engine.
>>>>
>>>> About a month ago "Fast Browser Search" started at start-up. There is
>>>> also a "box" in the top "ribbon" and Fast Browser Search is the
>>>> default.
>>>> The drop down box also includes Google, which I prefer, and I set it as
>>>> the default and remove the Fast Browser. This is good until IE is
>>>> closed
>>>> and reopened and then it defaults to Fast Browser again.
>>>>
>>>> What could I have done to cause Fast Brower to be my default? I'm even
>>>> thinking that I somehow replied "yes" to adding Fast Browser. But how
>>>> do
>>>> I get rid of it?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.